Line indicating copyholder



June 22, 1943. F. w. THURSTQN 2,322,261

LINE INDICATING COPYHOLDER Filed Jan. 22, 1945 2 sheets-Sheet l ZZZIZZI/Jidig,

June 22, 1943. F. w. THURSTON 2,322,261

LINE INDICATING COPIHOLDER Filed Jan. 22, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 22, 1943 U N HATE. D STAT ES PAT ENT' OFFICE LINE INDIGATING GOPYHOLDER Fred W. Thurston, Chevy Chase, Md. Application January 22, 1943,-Serial No. 473,230

9 Claims.

The invention relates to manually operatedline indicating copyholders for manuscript or typed copy sheets, and constitutes a desirable economical improvement over a' device of 'this.

character disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 450,601, filed July 11, 1942-, forLine indicating copyholder.

As in the instance of my said copending application the instant copyholder assembly is primarily designed to beeconomicall-y constructed of commercially available paper or cardboard; as

well as of other non-metallic'materials, thereby lending itself to unobstructed economical manu-- facture and distribution under conditions where,

more expensive and less available sheet metal may be difiicult to obtain.

In my aforesaid copending application there is featured a dimensional differentiation between the -manually operable line. indicating member or marker and the copyholder panel with whichthe opposite ends of the marker areslidably associ:- ated. Stated otherwisethe overall width ofvthecopy supporting panel: is slightly greater than the longitudinal dimension of themarker between;

the panel edge engagingportions,thereof. This.

results in insuring. proper frictional engagement, of the-marker with .thepanel-by slightly flexing,

the latter when the marker is slidably eng aged therewith, thereby compensating for reasonable tolerances in-a-plurality of copy-holder devices're sulting from mass-die cut-manufacture.

I have discovered that with the. described di'-- mensional differentiationbetween. the markerandcopyholder to insure a desirable friction grip which is necessarily incident to massdiecut manufacture and assembly, the present invention contemplates the provision of a marker or indi cator element which is longitudinally and resiliently extensible and contractible within limits so -as to automatically compensate for slight re-la tive dimensional differences and tolerancesbetween the panel and markerw-hich may be greater or less than necessary or desired. Rathertha'n slightly flexing or bowing the panel intotran'sverseconcave configuration by engaging oppo- This results in greater or. less In other words the friction. should atall,

site ends of a marker having slightly shorter di-.

mension, with opposite edges of the panel, the.

ing or bowing of the marker when the device is.

used with a relatively thick or multiple page copy disposed between the marker and the easellike copy supporting panel.

As in the instance of my aforesaid. copending application the present improvement also. contemplates the provision of a device of' the character described which may be conveniently folded into dismantled storing or shipping condition without danger of collapsing, or crushing any of the parts to an extent which. mightdeleteriously affect operation of the subsequently. assembled device from its knock-down condition.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a copyholder and marker in assembled condition, constituting a preferred embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section upon an enlarged scale taken substantially on line 22 of Fig. 1

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detailed view in vertical section taken on line 33 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a detailed enlarged perspective View of one end of the panel engaging and flexing member, also illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken substantially on line 5-5 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 6 is a View in front elevation of the marker or line indicating element in expanded or unfolded position,

Fig. '7 is a transverse section on line T'l of Fig. 5,

Fig. 8 is a detailed longitudinal section on line 8--8 of Fig. 6,

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showinga slight structural variation or departure in the marking device or line indicating element, and

Fig. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view on line l0! 0 of Fig. 9.

Referring to the drawings. the copyholder is composed of. a substantially one-piece frame member or easel, indicated generally by the ref-v erence character N3, and a movable marker or line indicator member designed to be frictionally held in slidable relation thereon, as indicated at I2. The copyholder is preferably integrally die= cut from the sheet or web of relatively heavy paperboard or fibre material so as to include a front panel portion I3 and an integral rear panel portion or backing member [5, (Fig. 1), formed by folding an integral blank along an intermediate crease or fold line It at the top of the front panel member, substantially as shown in my aforesaid copending application. An integral supporting base portion I1 is provided by folding one end of the flat blank along a crease or fold line 18 at the bottom of the front panel section l3, the rear of such base portion being preferably provided with an integral inwardly folded reen- Ihe rear panel forcing terminal extension l9. portion [5 is provided on opposite sides thereof with integrally formed oppositely disposed side wings ll designed to be folded inwardly along creased or score lines I4 so as to cooperate with the rear panel and the base portion I! in supporting the copyholder in easel-like position. Each side wing member H is provided with a rearwardly projecting extension I la designed for abutting cooperation with the inwardly folded terminal extension IQ of the base member I! in supporting the device in operating position as best seen in Fig. 1.

The base of the front panel portion 13 is provided with an integral copy supporting ledge comprising an upwardly and outwardly inclined folded part terminating in an inwardly extending copy supporting portion or ledge 2| designed to be projected through a horizontally elongated slot 22 in the panel l3. Laterally extensible foldable ears 23 are provided at opposite ends of and at the rear of the terminal part 2|, to maintain the copy supporting ledge in assembled position after insertion. This portion of the device as in the instance of the above briefly described structure, is also fully disclosed in my aforesaid copending application.

In order to maintain the panel l3 in a flexed or bowed conditions at all times independently of the marker l2. a separate strip 24 is provided, preferably at the base of the panel and beneath the copy supporting ledge 2|. This flexing or bowing strip is of predetermined longitudinal dimension and includes at its opposite ends rear- Wardly extending flanges or lugs 25 which project through suitably disposed apertures or cutaway portions 26 at opposite sides of the panel. In order to insert the flexing strip 24 through the said panel apertures 26 it is necessary to slightly flex or bow the panels prior to making the insertion as best seen in Fig. 2. After insertion the engagement of the inner edges 25a of the lugs 25.

with adjacent portions of the panel l3, serves to maintain the latter in its desired flexed or bowed condition.

The instant improved marker or indicating element l2. in the embodiment of the Figs. 1. to 8 inclusive, is composed of two parts resiliently se cured together so as to permit of yieldable longitudinal expansion and contraction of the markor when slidably engaged with opposite edges of the panel I3 independently of the flexed contour of the latter. .This resilient expansibility of the marking device is to compensate for small tolerances in the panel and marker in respect to the thickness of the copy material resting against the panel beneath the marker, and in mass die cut manufacture.

As best seen in Fig. 6 the marking device l2 comprises a relatively stationary portion 2'! indicated at the right hand of said figure and comprising an outer T-shaped panel engaging head 28 and a line indicating portion 29. The latter further includes integrally formed opposed flange portions, 30, 30a designed to be folded inwardly over one another in overlapped relation along fold or crease lines 3|, 3la, for a purpose to be described. The remaining portion of the marker consists'of a similar and separate axially aligned element 32 including an outer T-shaped panel engaging head 33 and an integral line indicating portion 34. The described separate parts of the line indicating element are flexibly and resiliently secured together by an elastic strip 35 secured at its opposite ends to the inner terminal portions 2! and 34 of the marker assembly.

In assembling for use the described separate parts of the marker illustrated in Fig. 6, the flange portion 30 of the stationary element 21 is folded upwardly and inwardly so as to rest against the inner longitudinal part of the movable marker element 32. When so folded an elongated slot 36 in the said flange portion 30 is disposed in registry with the elastic strip 35 so as not to bind or interfere with the desired expansion and contraction of said strip. The opposite flange por-' tion 30a of the stationary marker part 21 is next similarly folded along line 3Ia over the flange 3i) and is preferably adhesively secured thereto to maintain the parts in final folded position. The described assembly is best illustrated in Fig. 1 and serves to maintain the movable portion 32 of the marker in desired longitudinal alignment with the line indicating portion 29 of the stationary marker part 21.

From the foregoing construction and with further reference to Fig. 1 it will be apparent that the left hand portion of the assembled marker I2 is capable of longitudinal expansion against the tension of the elastic strip 35, both in assembling the marker on the panel, and when moving the marker as a unit vertically relative to the panel during operation of the device. In either in stance compensation is thus afforded both for slight variances in dimension of the panel in its flexed position and also for the thickness of copy material supported by the panel l3. The tension of the elastic strip 35 tends to maintain the marker against slippage and without undue friction relative to the opposite edges of the panel irrespective of inconsiderable or minor variations and dimensions incident to mass die cut manufacture.

In the marker embodiment illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10 the same principle is employed but wherein provision is made for limiting inward or contractile movement of the movable marker part independently of its engagement with the adjacent edge of the panel. To this end the stationary portion 21a of the marker is provided with a separate insert member 31 preferablyof the same thickness of material and which is adhesively or otherwise secured to the intermediate portion 29 of the marker. One end of the elastic strip 35a is secured to the said insert member 31, the opposite end-of the strip being secured to the portion 34a of the movable part 32a as in the instance of the heretofore described marker embodiment. The inner edge of the insert 31 thus provides a shoulder or abutment 38 for limiting inward movement of the movable marker portion under the tension of the elastic strip 35a. The outer edge 39 of the insert member 31 preferably terminates within or coincidentally with the edges of the foldable flange portions 30, 30a so as to be enclosed withnecting the adjacent inner ends of said elements in the latter when the device is in assembled position.

By the described construction it will be noted that the marker is extensible as in the first described instance but inward movement of the movable portion 32a thereof, under th tension of elastic strip 35a, is limited by the strip member shoulder 38, independently of any engagement of the movable marker head 33 with the edge of the panel [3.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will b understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from th spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. A line indicating copyholder comprising a frame including a copy supporting panel, and a manually adjustable line indicating member movably engageable at its opposite ends with the opposite side edges of said panel, said member consisting of separate longitudinally aligned complementary portions resiliently secured together, whereby to yieldably and frictionally engage the indicating member with the panel and to insure against slippage therebetween.

2. A line indicating copyholder comprising a frame including a flexible copy supporting panel, a manually adjustable line indicating member movably engageable at its opposite ends with the opposite side edges of said panel, and rigid means extending transversely of said panel and engaging opposite side portions thereof for holding said panel in a longitudinally flexed position relative to said line indicating member.

3. A line indicating copyholder comprising a frame including a flexible copy supporting panel, a longitudinally extensible manually adjustable line indicating member movably and frictionally engageable at its opposite ends with the opposite side edges of said panel, and a rigid strip element extending transversely of said panel and removably engaging opposed side portions thereof for holding said panel in a longitudinally flexed position relative to said indicating member.

4. An extensible line indicating member for a copyholder panel, comprising an element extending transversely of said panel and frictionally engageable at its outer end with a side edge. thereof, a complementary element disposed in longitudinal alignment with said first mentioned element and frictionally engageable at its outer end with the opposite side edge of said panel, and resilient tension means connecting said elements, whereby to impart a varying longitudinal dimension to said indicating member to compensate for transverse dimensional variations in said panel and insure substantially uniform frictional engagement therebetween when said member is manually moved longitudinally relative to the panel.

5. An extensible line indicating member for the copy supporting panel of a copyholder, comprising an element extending transversely of said panel and frictionally engageable at its outer end with a side edge thereof, a complementary element disposed in longitudinal alignment with said first mentioned element and frictionally engageable at its outer end with the opposite side edge of said panel, resilient tension means conand tending to draw the same together to contracted position, and means on one of said elements and engageable with the inner end of the other element for limiting inward movement of the latter under the tension of said resilient means.

6. An extensible line indicating member for the copy supporting panel of a copyholder, comprising an element extending transversely of said panel and frictionally engageable at its outer end with a side edge thereof, a complementary element disposed in longitudinal alignment with said first mentioned element and frictionally engageable at its outer end with the opposite side edge of said panel, and resilient tension means connecting the adjacent inner ends of said elements tending to draw the same together to contracted position, an integral portion of one of said elements being foldable over said tension means and over the other element to maintain said elements in axially aligned position, whereby to impart a .varying longitudinal dimension to said indicating member to compensate for transverse dimensional variations in said panel and to insure substantially uniform frictional engagement therebetween when said member is manually moved longitudinally of the panel.

'7. A line indicating copyholder comp-rising a frame including a flexible copy supporting panel, a manually adjustable line indicating member movably engageable at its opposite ends with the opposite side edges of said panel, a pair of transversely aligned apertures in said panel respectively disposed adjacent opposite side edges thereof, and a rigid strip member extending transversely of said panel, the opposite ends of said I strip member being provided with angularly extending flange lugs respectively insertible into said panel apertures when the panel is flexed, for holding the panel in longitudinally flexed position relative to said line indicating member.

8. In a line indicating copyholder including a flexible copy supporting panel and an extensible line indicating marker member frictionally engageable with and manually vertically movable relative thereto, the improvement comprising rigid means for maintaining said panel in a longitudinally flexed position, and spring tension means normally yieldably holding said marker member in longitudinally contracted position, whereb-y to impart a varying longitudinal dimension to the marker to compensate for transverse dimensional variations in said panel and insure substantially uniform frictional engagement between the same and said marker member when the latter is manually moved in opposite vertical directions on and relative to the panel.

9. In a line indicating copyholder including a copy supporting panel and a two-part longitudinally aligned and extensible line indicating marker member frictionally engageable with and manually vertically movable relative thereto, the improvement comprising spring tension means normally yieldably holding said marker member parts in longitudinally contracted position, whereby to impart a varying longitudinal dimension to the marker to compensate for transverse dimensional variations in said panel and insure substantially uniform frictional engagement between the same and said marker member when the latter is manually moved in opposite vertical directions on and relative to the panel.

FRED W. THURSTON. 

